'Gay Teen Novel' Focuses on Gay-Straight Alliance

(CNSNews.com) - A "gay teen novel" called Geography Club is now out in paperback, and the author's agent predicts it will be a television series one day soon.

The novel, by Seattle-based writer Brent Hartinger, "tells the story of 16-year-old Russel Middlebrook, who starts a secret gay-straight alliance at his high school in order to spend time with the object of his affection, a closeted baseball jock," according to the publisher's summary.

"Because they're afraid of being exposed as gay, they disguise the true nature of their club -- and try to discourage anyone else from joining-- by giving it the most boring name they can think of: the Geography Club."

HarperCollins notes that book went into three hardcover printings.

"In addition to the great sales and literary awards, Brent has even adapted it for the stage," said Jennifer DeChiara, the author's agent. "Mark my words, this thing will be a television series one day soon."

Conservative groups have long complained about student Gay-Straight Alliances, arguing that public schools should not be a forum for homosexual advocacy.

More than 2,000 gay-straight clubs are now in operation, according to the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.